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alanaks's avatar
alanaks
Explorer
Apr 12, 2017

Fantastic Vent Vs. AC

Hey Y'all. I live in my tiny Scotsman ('Rudi') full-time, but have yet to spend the hottest summer months in it. However, even though I live in the Pacific Northwest, just the months leading up to and away from the summer make for a very warm interior! I'd like to change that, but I need your advice.

Is a very good ventilation system (I'm thinking Fantastic Vent) enough to keep the warm air from baking the interior of Rudi and take a good amount of the edge off, or do you think it would be worth it to spend the $$$ on an AC unit? Thank you!

13 Replies

  • rexlion wrote:
    A Fantastic or Maxx fan on high could do a complete change of air in a small TT within just a few minutes. Even on low or medium, it will draw a very nice breeze in through your windows. So whether that would be enough for you depends on the temp and humidity levels outside, and your personal comfort level.

    Personally, just sitting around in the TT on a reasonably dry day I am ok up to about 85 degrees during the day, but I like it to be below 75 when I try to fall asleep. But if I were in the Pacific NorthWet, I might feel differently! I hear tales about your humidity levels. I don't like feeling sticky or being under sheets that feel damp, and AC dries the air so much.

    If you're trying to economize, install a 3 speed fan along with a MaxxAir vent cover so you can leave it open , even in rain. I think this item is well worth having for comfort's sake even if one has an AC as well, because 90 percent of the time I can be comfortable with just the fan-induced breeze (and I tire of the AC noise).

    But if you decide to get an AC, have you considered something like an 8000 BTU window unit? Much cheaper than a rooftop unit. Some folks install them permanently through either a window or a hole cut in a wall.


    This.

    You definitely don't need a large AC unit. You need one small enough that it will run at least one-fourth of the time that it's on. That's what it takes to keep humidity down. You also need to be able to run the fan on high, to move enough air through to keep the AC from forming ice on the evap coils.
  • A Fantastic or Maxx fan on high could do a complete change of air in a small TT within just a few minutes. Even on low or medium, it will draw a very nice breeze in through your windows. So whether that would be enough for you depends on the temp and humidity levels outside, and your personal comfort level.

    Personally, just sitting around in the TT on a reasonably dry day I am ok up to about 85 degrees during the day, but I like it to be below 75 when I try to fall asleep. But if I were in the Pacific NorthWet, I might feel differently! I hear tales about your humidity levels. I don't like feeling sticky or being under sheets that feel damp, and A/C dries the air so much.

    If you're trying to economize, install a 3 speed fan along with a MaxxAir vent cover so you can leave it open 24/7, even in rain. I think this item is well worth having for comfort's sake even if one has an A/C as well, because 90% of the time I can be comfortable with just the fan-induced breeze (and I tire of the A/C noise).

    But if you decide to get an A/C, have you considered something like an 8000 BTU window unit? Much cheaper than a rooftop unit. Some folks install them permanently through either a window or a hole cut in a wall.
  • I think it depends entirely on where you camp.
    I often go a year or more without turning on the AC but I avoid super hot area's in the middle of summer. We go to the hot, east side of the state in the very early and very late months of the camping season.
    I suspect if you cap someplace like Hells Canyon in the middle of summer, you'll want AC or you could just avoid those area's like we do. Or. has such great CG's all over the state that you should be able to avoid the heat.

    Good luck.